Midnight is just around the corner for the thousands of revelers who flooded Times Square to celebrate New Year's Eve without restrictions after two years of pandemic-dampened celebrations.
People from around the world travelled to party together in the iconic street-venue many waiting patiently in the light drizzle as they prepare to watch the iconic ball drop at midnight.
Revelers were seen crowded among the barricades donning their New Year's best including sparkly hats, 2023 glasses and waterproof poncho's - as rain and fog blanketed the city.
Times Square New Year's Eve event lineup, features live performances by Chelsea Cutler, JVKE, Jax, Ava Max, J-Hope, Osmani Garcia, New Edition, Sech, and Duran Duran.
Pictures from the event showed thousands sardined together in the iconic location for the much anticipated ball drop as New York City prepared to join the glow of the new year with the ball drop
The ball hasn't even dropped and New Year's Eve celebrations are already starting with a bang, and a kiss, with revelers in New York City taking advantage of the lack of masks
Ryan Seacrest came back to ring in 2023 hosting the iconic Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with co-host Liza Koshy and Jessie James Decker.
The party will span both coasts, in both New York and Los Angeles with performances include Duran Duran, j-hope, Jax, New Edition. Ciara, Fitz & The Tantrums, Maddie & Tae, Shaggy, Ben Platt, Aly & AJ, Halle Bailey, Tomorrow x Together, Bailey Zimmerman, Lauren Spencer Smith, Wiz Khalifa, Finneas, Armani White, Betty Who, Dove Cameron and Nicky Youre.
J-Hope had revelers bopping to the beat ahead of midnight despite a slight drizzle that rained down on crowds waiting to ring in the new year.
Jung Ho-seok, better known by his stage name J-Hope, is a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, dancer, and record producer.
He made his debut as a member of South Korean boy band BTS in 2013, under Big Hit Entertainment.
Jackie Miskanic, known professionally as Jax, is an American singer-songwriter from East Brunswick, New Jersey.
She finished third on the fourteenth season of American Idol, an American singing competition series and had her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart was for her song 'Victoria's Secret' which she debuted on her TikTok.
She was seen wearing a multicolored puffer vest and flared black pants - performing the hit song for crowds gathered in Times Square.
Jung Ho-seok, better known by his stage name J-Hope, is a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, dancer, and record producer and performed during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
J-Hope had a lot of presence on stage during the Times Square New Year's Eve 2023 Celebration on December 31, 2022
Jax was also seen performing in Times Square during the first New Year's Eve event without restrictions since the pandemic
Jackie Miskanic, known professionally as Jax, is an American singer-songwriter from East Brunswick, New Jersey and is seen here speaking with Ryan Seacrest as part of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
Ryan Seacrest and Quinta Brunson were seen speaking onstage during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment organized the Times Square New Year's Eve event and are expected to release 3,000 pounds of confetti over the heaving crowds of New York as the ball drops.
The night will culminate with a countdown as a glowing geodesic sphere 12 feet in diameter and weighing almost six tons descends from its lofty perch atop One Times Square.
Its surface is comprised of nearly 2,700 Waterford crystals that will be illuminated, officials said, by a palette of more than 16 million colors.
At the stroke of midnight, confetti is expected to rain down on soggy revelers, glittering amid the jumbo screens, neon and pulsing lights.
Last year, a scaled-back crowd of about 15,000 in-person mask-wearing spectators watched the ball descend while basking in the lights and hoopla of the U.S. marquee New Year's Eve event.
The ball was revealed with a firework's display earlier in the night with many lit up by the warm glow of the spectacular light display.
Singer, songwriter, and producer, Chelsea Cutler, and multi-talented singer, songwriter, and producer, JVKE, will headline the music performances this year for the hot ticket event.
The 2023 New Years Eve Ball was revealed in Times Square on New Year's Eve in New York ahead of the drop at midnight
People were seen patiently waiting in Times Square while it rained to celebrate the new year lit up by fireworks from the ball reveal
Entertainment was at every corner apart from the stars on stage, with some revelers seen petting a police canine from behind the barricade
People gathered in Times Square in the first New Year's Eve event without restrictions since the pandemic
Because of pandemic rules, it was far fewer than the tens of thousands of revelers who can now be seen in the world-famous square.
Barricades were up, and quite a few test runs were made prior to the event to make sure the main attraction went off without a hitch.
As for security, thousands of uniformed officers were seen patrolling the streets many will also be present throughout neighborhoods and the subways to make sure everyone enjoys the festivities safely.
The pandemic will not impact New Year's celebrations this year. Restrooms will not be available and, despite the long wait and rain, revelers will have to stand in Times Square. Bags, chairs and umbrellas were not allowed.
The highly anticipated festivities have started to be broadcast for television and internet audiences and include an immersive virtual experience from One Times Square – home of the iconic New Year's Eve Ball Drop Celebration.
The international celebration has been building excitement with hourly countdowns leading to the iconic Ball Drop when the Mayor of the City of New York, Eric Adams, anticipated to push the Waterford Crystal button that signals the descent of the New Year's Eve Ball and lead the 60 second countdown to midnight.
People from around the world came to celebrate and watch the iconic ball drop with many already donning their New Year's best including sparkly hats, 2023 sunglasses and rain-safe waterproof poncho's
Thousands of revelers flooded Times Square where record crowds are counting down to the new year - the first time without restrictions since 2020 - under a blanket of fog and rain after two years of pandemic-ruined celebrations
The night will culminate with a countdown as a glowing geodesic sphere 12 feet in diameter and weighing almost six tons descends from its lofty perch atop One Times Square - many gearing up for a night of standing taking solace where they can
At the stroke of midnight, confetti is expected to rain down on soggy revelers, glittering amid the jumbo screens, neon and pulsing lights
Last year, a scaled-back crowd of about 15,000 in-person mask-wearing spectators watched the ball descend while basking in the lights and hoopla of the U.S. marquee New Year's Eve event - this year masks were few and far between
Because of pandemic rules, it was far fewer than the tens of thousands of revelers who can now be seen in the world-famous square a stark contrast to today's events
The crowd stood behind barricades which were set up earlier in the day to keep the thousands expected to descend into the famed square. A lone officer walks past the crowd, but is one of a full force in place to deal with the influx of crowds
Streets were closed earlier in Manhattan from about 4 am on Saturday morning. At 11am police were called to a stabbing incident near Seventh Avenue and West 40th Street just steps away from the Times Square celebrations.
The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and police are looking for a suspect described as a man in his 20s who was wearing a black jacket, black pants and white sneakers, and carrying a red bag.
A heavy police presence will remain in the area for the entirety of the night.
While there were no specific credible threats to NYC or the planned New Year's Eve celebrations, authorities prepared for the unexpected, New York City Police Department Commissioner Keechant Sewell said Friday at a security briefing.
'Our intelligence analysts, working very closely with the FBI and joint terrorism task force, will be monitoring all streams for any kind of threats that may be coming in,' NYPD Chief of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Thomas Galati said during the news conference.
Without restrictions many were seen getting close for selfie's and documenting the exciting gathering of thousands
Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment are the organizers of Times Square New Year's Eve and 3,000 pounds of confetti will release as the ball drops at midnight
Crowds were seen earlier patiently waiting as they prepared for the entertainment to come over New Year's Eve
Times Square saw a little rainfall, but it didn't deter the presence of many who came in early to get the best spot to view the musical presentations acts, and of course the Ball drop at midnight
A rare sight of a mask was seen during Times Square's New Year's Eve celebrations as many have embraced the lack of pandemic-restrictions
People gathered in the packed streets of New York to celebrate the end of 2022 many crowding close together - some saying it's a welcome reprieve from years previous during the pandemic
He added that there will be 'an abundance of protective measures in place.'
The NYPD is expected to deploy K-9 teams and explosives and drone detections, and 'multilayered screening by our counterterrorism officers posted at every checkpoint' will be employed, Galati said.
Several access points allowed the public to enter the event in Times Square. Protective measures for police include a heavy weapons teams, bomb squad, and teams monitoring more than 1,000 cameras, according to Galati.
People began celebrating New Year's Eve at Times Square in 1904, in 1907 the New Year's Eve Ball made its first descent from the flagpole at One Times Square.
In addition to the musical performances, actor and TV personality Jonathan Bennett, returned to the celebration as Times Square New Year's Eve official host.
Bennett was joined by Jeremy Hassell who has been part of the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration since 2016.
A woman was seen wearing a red poncho as crowds began to flood in for the night's celebrations. A heaving crowd gathered later in the night, the days of social distancing a distant memory
Revelers waited in the rain in Times Square for New Year's Celebrations with millions of others watching eagerly from home
People gather in Times Square to celebrate New Year's Eve on a rainy day in New York City - a few masks spotted among a sea of people taking advantage of the no restriction celebration
As revelers continue to arrival in Times Square the NYPD posted a 'thank you' to all of 'New York's Finest' who are out there doing their part to ensure the safety of everyone leading up to the New Year's Eve celebration
As for security, thousands of uniformed officers were seen in Times Square. Police were also present throughout neighborhoods and the subways to make sure everyone enjoys the festivities safely
The Times Square New Year's Eve Ball was seen being tested in preparation for the December 31 celebration in Times Square on Friday
Preparations for the New Year started early with a sign lighting up 2023 lifted to One Times Square where the ball will drop
Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager kicked off New Year's Eve on NBC with a two-hour special featuring interviews with Miley Cyrus, George Lopez, Dolly Parton, Kenan Thompson, Christie Brinkley, Andrea Canning, Mario Cantone to name a few.
The Today hosts will discuss some of the year's biggest and buzziest moments with their celebrity guests.
Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper will host a more sober CNN New Year's Eve celebration from New York with guests Jean Smart and Cheri Oteri, while Don Lemon was seen hosting from New Orleans.
The show will include performances from Usher, Kevin Hart, Ellie Goulding, Patti LaBelle, REO Speedwagon, Nick Cannon, Jenifer Lewis, John Stamos, Tenacious D's Jack Black and Kyle Gass, and Ava Max.
The CNN coverage is also covering celebrations from around the world and feature recorded interviews with stars Theo James, Steve Aoki, NCT 127, Geena Davis, Deepak Choprah and Wayne Rooney.
English (United States) ·